Prepare to be amazed

Not everyone likes boats and changing hotels every night. And you are right, you don’t need to, you can see the best of the Galapagos islands from Santa Cruz. This tour will take you to visitor sites, amaze you with the flora and fauna and have you back in your hotel every afternoon. The range of snorkelling and land tours we have included guarantee you will be amazed and never forget Galapagos.

This tour consists of visiting 3 sites: El Chato, Lava tunnels and Los Gemelos. El Chato Tortoise Reserve is near Santa Rosa, approx 19km from Puerto Ayora. This is one of the only places where you can observe the ancient creatures up close in the wild. They look old, they smell old and they even sound old when they suck in their necks and heads and let out a hiss of air, like an old leather cushion. The reserve is also a great place to see the short eared owls, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers and paint billed crakes.

After you return to the current century you will be taken to the lava tubes, where you can walk more than 1km underground. They were formed by the solidifying of the outside skin of molten lava flow. When the lava flow ceased, the molten lava inside the flow kept moving, emptying out of the solidified skin thus leaving tunnels.

Lastly a visit to Las Gemelos, the twin craters that are actually sink holes surrounded by Scalesia forest. Vermillion flycatchers and often seen here, as well as short eared owls on occasion. It is a beautiful place to take in the greenery of Galapagos and walk along the small paths around the craters to spot some of the bird life.

At the conclusion of the tour you will be transported back to Puerto Ayora and your hotel.

Depart 7am for a 2 tank dive trip. The site will depend on your experience and our itinerary. Includes: light breakfast, 2 tanks, all equipment, guide, towels and photos of your dive.

Departure: 7am, you will need to be at the Academy Bay office at 6.50amTravel Time: 2 hour speed boat ride with on board toilet from Puerto Ayora. (August-October the seas can be quite rough). Passengers with back or neck injuries are not advised to take this tour.The Tour: The morning will be spent with your guide around the town of Puerto Villamil visiting the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where they are breeding 5 different species of tortoise from the different volcanoes on Isabela. The Flamingo lagoon and the nearby beaches covered in hundreds of marine iguanas are also on the list. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant, and then you will be shown back to the port to embark on the Bay Tour. During the afternoon you will be taken to Las Tintoreras, the home of the white tipped reef sharks, and a small bay where the Galapagos Penguins like to frequent. It is here that you will have time for snorkelling, though you will have to be quick to get a glimpse of the penguins underwater!!Return: approx. 5.30pm. (there is a compulsory departure fee of $5 charged by the local council for every passengers that is not included in the tour cost)
Includes: lunch, water, snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) wetsuits available at an extra charge, but rarely necessary.

Depart 7am for a 2 tank dive trip. The site will depend on your experience and our itinerary. Includes: light breakfast, 2 tanks, all equipment, guide, towels and photos of your dive.

Accommodation Type

This package is run for anyone and every budget

We have 3 levels of hotel for you to choose. If you are backpacking, honeymooning or can’t stand the thought of a hostel and would like a little more comfort or would like to go all out and have the best, we’ve got you covered!